Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman's post-apocalyptic neo-Western movie is a flawed but worthwhile re-watch 16 years later
"The Book of Eli" is a flawed neo-Western. But on occasion, it lives up to its potential, largely thanks to a pair of performances that make it worth a rewatch 16 years later.
Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman star in a post-apocalyptic neo-Western movie titled The Book of Eli, which was released in 2010. The film received mixed reviews, with a 3/5 star rating from Tom's Guide. The story is set in a world devastated by nuclear war, where the sole remaining copy of the Bible is in the possession of the protagonist, Eli (played by Denzel Washington). The movie also features Gary Oldman as a villainous warlord named Carnegie, who is determined to obtain the Bible.
Despite the film's flaws, such as dated action cinematography and Mila Kunis's underwhelming performance, Denzel Washington's combat moves foreshadow his later roles in The Equalizer franchise. Gary Oldman's portrayal of Carnegie is noteworthy, reminiscent of his greatest villain performances. The movie is directed by the Hughes brothers and written by Gary Whitta, who later co-wrote Rogue One.
Re-watching The Book of Eli 16 years later, the reviewer found it worth the effort, primarily due to the performances of Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman. The film's post-nuclear-war setting and the revelation of Eli's blindness and mission from God add depth to the story. Overall, even though the movie has its weaknesses, it still offers a worthwhile viewing experience for fans of the lead actors.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
